(Marketwire) - Barclays Global Investors, N.A. (BGI), the world's largest Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) provider, announced today that the iShares S&P India Nifty 50 Index Fund (NASDAQ: INDY) began trading today. The new iShares Fund is designed to track the S&P CNX Nifty Index that represents the 50 largest and most liquid Indian securities listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) of India. iShares offers investors the widest selection of emerging market ETFs with 18 regional and single country emerging market funds, including the iShares S&P India Nifty 50 Index Fund. As of October 31, 2009, 30% of iShares total net asset flows or US$9.8 Billion has gone into emerging market and single emerging countries.(2)
"We're pleased to provide investors with an iShares ETF that tracks one of the most investable and well-known India indexes. Demand for Indian equities continues to be strong as India has a differing set of companies and industries. In addition, the index, like other emerging market indexes, has a low correlation with U.S. equities, which offers the important added benefit of portfolio diversification," said Noel Archard, head of U.S. iShares Product Research and Development.
About Barclays Global Investors/iShares
Barclays Global Investors is one of the world's largest asset managers and a leading global provider of investment management products and services with more than 2,900 institutional clients and US$1.7 trillion of assets under management as of 30 June 2009. BGI transformed the investment industry by creating the first index strategy in 1971 and the first quantitative active strategy in 1979. BGI is the global product leader in exchange traded funds (iShares) with over 380 funds globally across equities, fixed income and commodities which trade on 16 exchanges worldwide. iShares customer base consists of the institutional segment of pension plans and fund managers, as well as the retail segment of financial advisors and high net worth individuals.
Call 1-800-iShares to request a prospectus, which includes investment objectives, risks, fees, expenses and other information that you should read and consider carefully before investing.
Investing involves risks, including possible loss of principal. Diversification may not protect against market risk.
In addition to the normal risks associated with investing, international investments may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuation in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations. Emerging markets involve heightened risks related to the same factors as well as increased volatility and lower trading volume. Narrowly focused investments and securities focusing on a single country may be subject to higher volatility.
The iShares Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor's. This company does not make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Funds. Neither SEI norBarclays Global Investors, nor any of their affiliates, are affiliated with the companies listed above.
The iShares Funds ("Funds") are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co. (SEI). Barclays Global Fund Advisors (BGFA) serves as the investment advisor to the Funds. Barclays Global Investors Services (BGIS) and Barclays Global Investors Fund Distribution Company (BGIFDC) assist in the marketing of the Funds. BGFA, BGIS, and BGIFDC are affiliates ofBarclays Global Investors, N.A., a majority-owned subsidiary of Barclays Bank PLC, none of which is affiliated with SEI.
©2009 Barclays Global Investors, N.A. All rights reserved. iShares® is a registered trademark of Barclays Global Investors, N.A. All other trademarks, servicemarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
(1) Source: Morgan Stanley Investment Strategies and Bloomberg as of 12/31/2008. Based on number of ETFs, AUM, and market share.
(2) Source: Bloomberg, FactSet and BGI.
